"It's an unsolved mystery as far as I'm concerned," said Dr. Michael Kurtz, a Southeastern Louisiana University professor emeritus who has taught a course on the assassination for 40 years.

Lee Harvey Oswald was born in New Orleans on Oct. 18, 1939. His father died two months before his birth. Oswald's family first lived in a home on Alvar Street in the Upper Ninth Ward, but moved frequently throughout the city, the Northshore, Dallas and New York during his childhood.

Kurtz refutes those who believe Oswald's unstable childhood was a reason for his personality.

"Lee's half brother and brother grew up in exactly the same circumstances," said Kurtz. "You know, people say he had a troubled childhood, but so did they, they grew up to be perfectly normal people."

At 17, Oswald joined the Marines, only to leave a few years later to defect to the Soviet Union where he met his soon-to-be wife Marina. In the early '60s, he moved back to the United States and eventually back to New Orleans. He lived in a home in the 4900 block of Magazine Street.

During the stint in New Orleans, he was shown on WDSU-TV passing out pro-Castro fliers outside the International Trade Mart building in downtown New Orleans. He was also interview on WDSU-TV.

JFK Photos: Inside an assassin's wallet

JFK Photos: Inside an assassin's wallet

The National Archives is the repository for much of the articles and evidence gathered after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Among the items, the wallet carried by Lee Harvey Oswald when he was arrested for killing President Kennedy.

A military identification card and a Dallas Public Library Card. Some of the items were stained by chemicals used for fingerprinting.

The wallet contained a picture of Oswald in his Marine Corps uniform.

Photo of Owald's wife, Marina

Lee Harvey Oswald's Social Security card

A United States Marine Corps certificate of service card

Lee Harvey Oswald's Marine Corps identification card.

Lee Harvey Oswald's Dallas Public Library card.

Abraham Zapruder's movie camera and camera case.

The Zapruder film was shot by Abraham Zapruder with a home-movie camera as Kennedy's motorcade passed through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, unexpectedly capturing the President's assassination.

The T-shirt Lee Harvey Oswald was wearing when shot by Jack Ruby, as he was being walked through a crowd of reporters by Dallas Police.

The evidence tag on Oswald's T-shirt.

Oswald was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital—the same hospital where doctors tried to save President Kennedy's life two days earlier.

A network television camera was broadcasting live and millions witnessed the shooting on live television as it happened.

Oswald died at 1:07 p.m on Nov. 24, 1963.

The black sweater that Oswald was wearing when he was shot.

Jack Ruby said he had been distraught over Kennedy's death and that his motive for killing Oswald was "...saving Mrs. Kennedy the discomfiture of coming back to trial." Others believe that Ruby was part of a conspiracy.

The evidence tag reads "Dark slip on sweater of Lee Harvey Oswald."

The bullet hole is clearly visible in the sweater Oswald was wearing.

The shirt that Oswald was wearing when he was shot.

A Parkland Hospital body identification tag that was not completely filled out.

The bullet hole is also clearly visible in the shirt Oswald was wearing when he was shot.

Oswald's shirt showing the bullet hole and an evidence tag.

A tighter shot clearly shows the hole left by the bullet that killed Oswald as it passed through his shirt.

A blue zipper bag belonging to Oswald.

According to Oswald's wife, Marina, Oswald had used the bag on a trip from New Orleans to Mexico.

Lee Harvey Oswald's Mannlicher-Carcano rifle that he used to assassinate President John F. Kennedy

The rifle was seen in a photo of Oswald, taken by his wife Marina, in March 1963.

On March 12, 1963, Oswald (under the assumed name Alek Hidell) ordered the rifle from an advertisement in the February 1963 issue of the American Rifleman magazine.

Oswald paid $19.95 plus postage and handling for the rifle.

A green and brown blanket that Oswald was said to have used to store the rifle.

Investigator Paul Morgan Stombaugh testified that he found Lee Harvey Oswald's hairs on the blanket.

The snub-nosed Smith & Wesson "Victory" Model .38 Special revolver that Oswald had in his hand when he was arrested in a Dallas movie theater 80 minutes after the assassination.

The shirt that Oswald was wearing when arrested by Dallas Police.

The gray zipper jacket Oswald was wearing when arrested by Dallas Police.

Oswald was arrested in the rear of the Texas Theatre in Dallas, where he had slipped in without paying.

Oswald being led out from the Texas Theatre by Dallas Police.

Some initials are those of Dallas Police officers who handled the evidence.

The so-called "Magic Bullet" found on a stretcher at Parkland Hospital after President Kennedy's death.

There is no evidence that the bullet was on a stretcher that had carried Kennedy's body.

The bullet remains one of the unexplained discoveries in the Kennedy assassination.

Bullet fragments found in the presidential limousine.

Fragment of base of bullet found in the front of the presidential limousine.

Cardboard boxes found on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Repository, where Oswald fired the fatal shots.

The cardboard boxes were arranged to create a "sniper's nest."

The photograph was taken on March 20, 1964, and marked by Howard Brennan during his testimony before the Warren Commission to show the window (A) in which he saw a man with a rifle, and the window (B) on the fifth floor in which he saw people watching the motorcade.

A bullet believed to have been fired by Oswald at General Edwin Walker.

Marina Oswald said that Oswald considered Walker a "fascist" and the leader of a "fascist organization." It is believed Oswald tried to kill Walker on April 10, 1963.

Fragment of the nose of a bullet found in the front of the presidential limousine.

One of four cartridge shells found at the scene of the murder of Dallas Police officer J.D. Tippit. Tippit had stopped Oswald 45 minutes after the assassination.

6.5 mm cartridge case found on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Repository.

Among the five .38 Special cartridges found in Oswald's pocket after his arrest.

Oswald's still camera used to take the famous "backyard photograph."

Exhibit number tag from the Warren Commission which investigated the Kennedy assassination.

After police arrested Oswald, they searched his home and found a picture of him standing in his backyard. In one hand he held a rifle, in the other copies of two communist newspapers.

This model camera can still be found for sale on eBay today, for less than $30.

Film canisters holding the original and copies of the Zapruder film.

Frame 150 from the Zapruder film

It is one of the most studied pieces of film in history.

The film captures the fatal shot to President Kennedy's head when his limousine was almost exactly in front of Zapruder's position.

Copies were made for Zapruder which he gave to the Secret Service. Life Magazine purchased the film for $150,000.

A technician examines the film for aging and damage.

The technician noted a .5 percent shrinkage in the film.

In this sequence of frames, the Kennedy motorcade can be seen driving by.

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